Bad History!: The Flawed History of the Occult

editorial by Frater L.

Everyone will know examples of the various stories of priceless Cipher Documents or profound rituals "discovered" in second-hand bookshops, quite often near to the British Museum or in Paris ; other examples of "bad history" will concern the existence of bodies of "Unknown Superiors" or "Secret Chiefs" or the like.

On the other hand, a "Legenda" like that of Ormus and the Brothers of Light, at the origin of Heredom of Kilwinning, will often contain kernels of reference that, once seen clearly in their proper context, will aid us to understand better the ritual procedure of their working, and emotionally identify us with that true-crafted form.

The "Enochian" tradition is a very good example of how scholarly research and practical magical working need to nourish each other, for alone they will only comfort the magical blinds or prop up the myths that, properly understood, will invoke the preternatural by means of pointing to its' emergence.

In this issue of the JWMT, the Enochian tradition features strongly. The next issue of the Journal will look at how older traditions have been adapted in the modern era.